The Princess of Wales has addressed the difficulties parents face staying current with rapidly evolving social media platforms and emerging scientific research on child development.
Catherine visited the University of East London on Wednesday to unveil a new research initiative through her Centre for Early Childhood, which she established in 2021.
During her visit, she spoke with Ashleigh, a mother attending with her three daughters, Ella, five, Ava, two, and Mia, one, about the realities of raising children in today's world.
The Princess of Wales stressed the value of building a supportive community around families, telling Ashleigh: "It sounds like you have really gone out there and sought those relationships and that knowledge for you as a family.
The Princess of Wales has addressed her parenting difficulties in a rare admission
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"Do the parents you chat to, are they interested in whether the guidance they are being given is founded on evidence?
"It does take energy and effort to go and find that village [ of support] for yourself."
The Waleses maintain a strict no-phone policy for their three children, a stance Prince William disclosed last year.
Speaking with Canadian actor Eugene Levy, the Prince of Wales confirmed that Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, do not "have any phones," explaining that he and Catherine are "very strict about" the matter.
The Princess of Wales pictured with her three children on the Buckingham Palace balcony
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This approach aligns with Catherine's broader concerns about digital devices in family life.
In an essay titled The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World, she described smartphones, tablets and computers as sources of "constant distraction" affecting modern households.
In the foreword to the new guide, Catherine wrote: "In a world which feels increasingly distracted, fragmented and digital... it is more important than ever to invest in what truly helps us to thrive: human connection."
The mother-of-three emphasised that society tends to prioritise academic and physical achievements, yet research consistently demonstrates that our earliest bonds and surroundings establish the groundwork for lifelong health and happiness.
The Princess of Wales learned about social and emotional development in the Imaginarium room during a visit to the University of East London
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Eugene Levy and Prince William pictured at Windsor Castle | APPLETV+She added: "The quality of our connections - with ourselves, with others and with the world around us - shapes how safe we feel, how we relate, and how we process experiences throughout our lives."
Catherine arrived at the University of East London's Institute of the Science of Early Years and Youth on Wednesday to launch Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development, a digital resource aimed at professionals working with infants and young families.
The royal chose a golden trouser suit designed by Roland Mouret for the occasion, accessorised with her signature initial charms by Danielle Draper representing her three children.